Tokyo, Nov. 14 (Jiji Press)—Three of six experts at a government panel meeting on Monday expressed their opposition to Japanese Emperor Akihito’s possible abdication.

At the second hearing by the panel, one of the three remaining experts indicated a cautious view on allowing the Emperor to step down while the two others supported abdication.

At the first hearing, held last week, two conservative scholars opposed abdication while three specialists showed tolerance under certain conditions.

Monday’s meeting was the fourth by the panel that discusses ways to reduce the Emperor’s burden from officials duties and issues related to the Emperor’s possible abdication.

Of the three opponents at the day’s hearing, Shoichi Watanabe, professor emeritus at Sophia University, called for the utilization of the existing regency system stipulated under the Imperial House Law.